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Week 23: Breaking Stereotypes about Women
A stereotype is a widely held and simplified belief about a specific group. Groups are often stereotyped on the basis of sex, gender identity, race and ethnicity, nationality, age, socioeconomic status, language, and so forth. They are deeply embedded within social institutions and wider culture. Stereotypes and bias prevent us from seeing people as unique individuals with a range of characteristics that make them who they are. Instead, we end up putting people in boxes and feel uncomfortable when they don’t seem to fit in those boxes.
Too often we hear adjectives that describe women as nurturing, emotional, polite, weak, bossy, gossipy, ditzy, and organized. By contrast, men are stereotypically described as confident, arrogant, logical, practical, a leader, dependable, charming, and strong. Stereotypically masculine characteristics are frequently valued more highly than stereotypically feminine characteristics. Gender stereotypes can shape beliefs that women have about themselves, causing them to question their own abilities and possibly deterring them from male-dominated careers.
Besides gender, there are other identities that every individual has. When you have multiple identities that do not fit the conventional stereotypes, there will be pushback for you to fit in. For example, Mona Haydar is a Muslim woman who raps. Those identities don’t seem to fit together because it is not what we envision a woman, a Muslim, nor a rapper to be. She is all those things (and more!) and we can only understand that if we keep our minds curious and be open to thinking outside the box.
Check out this 4 minute interview where Mona Haydar talks about how she is offended by people’s shock when she tells people she is a poet turned MC rapper.
Want to hear more? Watch Mona Haydar’s music video called Wrapping my Hijab, where she addresses the stereotypes and microaggressions she faces as a Muslim woman rapper.
Resources:
How Gender Stereotypes Kill a Woman’s Self Confidence (Harvard Business School)
Gender Stereotypes and Their Effect on Young People (Improving Gender Balance Project)
